• President Truman Announces Japanese Surrender
    Abbie Rowe
    Oval Office
    press
    West Wing
    World War II
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service shows President Harry S. Truman in the Oval Office addressing a large group of reporters, announcing Japan's surrender to the press.
  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill give a joint press conference 
    Unknown
    Head of State
    Oval Office
    World War II
    In this black and white photograph, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin D. Roosevelt give a joint press conference in the Oval Office of the White House, December 23, 1941. Churchill's visit came in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States formally entering World War II earlier that month. The Prime Minister would go on to make numerous visits to Washington throughout the conflict.
  • The Trumans Greet VJ Day Crowds
    Abbie Rowe
    World War II
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service shows President Harry Truman and First Lady Bess Truman greeting crowds outside the White House on VJ Day -- the day the Japanese surrendered and World War II unofficially ended.
  • President Truman Announces Japanese Surrender
    Abbie Rowe
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    press
    World War II
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service is of President Truman standing behind his desk in the Oval Office reading the announcement of the surrender of Japan to the press. On the wall behind Truman is a portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt painted by Frank O. Salisbury.
  • President Truman with Architects of the Marshall Plan
    Abbie Rowe
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    World War II
    Cabinet
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service shows President Harry Truman in the Oval Office with Secretary of State George C. Marshall, Paul G. Hoffman, and W. Averell Harriman, who were chiefly responsible for the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was designed by the United States immediately following World War II and supplied over $12 billion to assist in rebuilding the European economy and prevent the spread of communism.
  • Franklin Roosevelt Signs the Declaration of War Against Japan
    Unknown
    World War II
    Bill Signing
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    In this black and white photograph, President Franklin D. Roosevelt is shown in the Oval Office signing the Congressional declaration of war against Japan one day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Roosevelt and Churchill Fishing at Shangri-La
    Unknown
    Camp David
    World War II
    Head of State
    This black and white photo is of President Franklin D. Roosevelt fishing in a stream, accompanied by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The presidential retreat during Roosevelt's administration was known as "Shangri-La" but was renamed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after his grandson and is still known as "Camp David."
  • Fala Donates Toys to the War Effort
    Unknown
    Pets
    World War II
    In this black and white photograph, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's dog Fala is shown donating his toys. In a highly publicized campaign, Fala donated toys to promote scrap rubber collections for the war effort in 1942. Fala, a Scottish Terrier, was a gift to President Roosevelt from his cousin Margaret “Daisy” Suckley. Fala went to live in the White House on November 10, 1940, and regularly traveled with the President, including trips to Roosevelt’s homes in both Hyde Park, New York and Warm Springs, Georgia. Fala was popular among the American public and frequently received letters from people across the country. In 1943, MGM made a short-subject film relating the World War II home front story from Fala's perspective. The studio made a second installment in 1946 after his master's death that included Fala's tour of Hyde Park, the Roosevelt family estate, and future site of a presidential library.
  • President Roosevelt Inspects Airplane Factory
    Unknown
    World War II
    This black and white photograph is of President Franklin D. Roosevelt touring the Consolidated Aircraft plant in San Diego in 1942. The president is in the backseat of an open car, surrounded by members of his Secret Service detail. An unfinished bomber plane is in the background with two workers peeking out of the top of the plane's body to catch a glimpse of the president. Although it was created in 1865, the Secret Service did not begin formal protection duties for the president and vice president until 1901, following the assassination of President McKinley.
  • Franklin Roosevelt in the Oval Office
    Unknown
    military
    World War II
    This black and white photograph shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt examining a large globe presented to him by the U.S. Army. The president wears a black armband and appears to be studying Europe and North Africa. The globe was over 50 inches in diameter and weighed roughly 500 pounds. Two identical globes were made at the same time by the Weber Costello Company of Chicago Heights, Illinois. One of the other globes was gifted to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
  • Roosevelt and Churchill Outside the White House
    Unknown
    State Visit
    Head of State
    South Grounds
    South Lawn
    World War II
    In this black and white photograph, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill are seated outside the White House on the South Lawn. Churchill visited the United States multiple times both during and after World War II.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Welcomes Officers in the Oval Office
    Unknown
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    World War II
    Military
    In this black and white photograph in the Oval Office, President Franklin D. Roosevelt welcomes the officers and enlisted men of the Sixth Ranger Battalion that helped free 513 prisoners at a Japanese prisoner of war camp at Cabanatuan in the Philippines. These men included Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, Capt. Robert W. Prince, 1st Lt. Melville H. Schmidt, 1st Sgt. Robert G. Anderson, S. Sgt. Theodore R. Richardson, S. Sgt. William R. Butler, S. Sgt. Charles W. Brown, Sgt. Harold Hard, PFC Gilbert Cox, PFC Charles S. Swain, PFC Carlton Dietzel, and PFC Leroy Myerhoff.
  • Roosevelt and Churchill at a Joint Press Conference
    Unknown
    State Visit
    Press
    Head of State
    World War II
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    This black and white photograph shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt having a joint press conference with the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the Oval Office. This press conference took place a few weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States entering World War II by declaring war on Japan.
  • Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Attended by Roosevelt and Churchill
    Unknown
    State Visit
    Head of State
    World War II
    South Grounds
    South Portico
    Holidays
    Christmas
    In this black and white silver gelatin photograph, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill attend the traditional Christmas tree lighting ceremony on December 24, 1941 on the South Grounds of the White House. Both leaders delivered defiant speeches that conveyed their joint determination to defeat the Axis powers. This trip was the first of multiple visits made by Churchill to the US both during and after World War II.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt in Casablanca
    Unknown
    World War II
    Presidential Visit
    This black and white photo shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt in Casablanca. In January of 1943, President Roosevelt traveled to Casablanca to meet with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other Allied leaders to discuss European strategy during World War II. This conference was later known as the Casablanca Conference.
  • Roosevelt and Churchill Meet with Chiefs of Staff
    Unknown
    State Visit
    Head of State
    Military
    World War II
    Rose Garden
    South Grounds
    In this black and white photograph, President Franklin D. Roosevelt is seated with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the Rose Garden along with military Chiefs of Staff from both the United States and the United Kingdom. Those standing left to right include Field Mshl. Sir John Dill, Lt. Gen. Sir Hastings Ismay, Air Mshl. Sir Charles Portal, Gen. Sir Alan Brooke, Adm. Sir Dudley Pound, Adm. William D. Leahy, Gen. George C. Marshall, Adm. Ernest J. King, and Lt. Gen. Joseph T. McNarney. Others present at this meeting but not pictured include Brig. Gen. E. C. Jacob, Brig. Gen. John R. Deane, and presidential advisor Harry L. Hopkins.
  • VJ Day Crowds Press White House Fence
    Abbie Rowe
    World War II
    north view
    This photograph, taken by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service, shows crowds outside the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue on VJ Day as the Trumans greet them. Servicemen form a human chain to control the crowd.
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt Signing the Declaration of War Against Germany and Italy
    Johnny Thompson
    bill signing
    World War II
    In this black and white photograph, President Franklin Roosevelt is shown in the Oval Office signing a declaration of war against Germany and Italy in response to their declarations of war against the United States.